9
Compelling scientific evidence indicates
that rapid and large-scale implementation of
SLCP control measures could deliver near
termmultiple benefits for climate protection,
public health and food and energy security.
Recent reports have identified 16 BC and
CH
4
measures that can deliver significant
benefits to human well-being by protecting
the environment and public health,
promoting food and energy security, and
addressing near term climate change.
These measures involve technologies and
practices that already exist and in most
cases are cost effective.
If fully implemented by 2030, these
measures could reduce global CH
4
emissions by about 40% and BC emissions
by about 80% relative to a “reference”
scenario (UNEP & WMO 2011).
For CH
4
, the main reductions would be
achieved by addressing emissions from coal
mining and oil and gas production, including
through pre-mine degasification, recovery
and oxidation of methane from ventilated air
from coal mines, and improved control of
unintended fugitive emissions from oil and
natural gas production.
At the global level, measures targeting
the residential and transport sectors offer
the largest potential for reductions of BC
emissions, including implementation of
standards for the reduction of pollutants
from vehicles, elimination of high-emitting
vehicles, and dissemination of cleaner and
more efficient cooking and heating stoves.
About half of these emission reductions could
be achieved through net cost savings over
the lifetime of the measures (UNEP 2011a).
Large-scale implementation of these
measures by 2030 would likely prevent
2.4 (0.7–4.6) million premature deaths from
outdoor air pollution annually and avoid
annual crop yield losses of over 50 (30–135)
million tons, which represents an increase
of a up to 4% of the total annual global crop
production. Implementation could also slow
down the warming expected by 2050 by
about 0.5°C (UNEP &WMO 2011) – and
by about 0.7°C in the Arctic by 2040 – and
could have significant regional climate
benefits in sensitive regions of the world,
reducing disruption of rainfall patterns and
slowing the melting of some glaciers (WB
& ICCI 2013). Action to reduce the climate
impacts of HFCs, such as using hydrocarbon
refrigerants in domestic refrigerators,
freezers and small air conditioning units,
could deliver additional near term climate
change mitigation benefits.
However, while fast action to mitigate
SLCPs could help slow the rate of climate
change and improve the chances of staying
below the 2°C target in the near term,
longer term climate protection will only be
possible if deep and persistent cuts in CO
2
emissions are rapidly realised.
03
The SLCP Opportunity: Benefits of Control Measures
